Merchandise package



Aug. 6, 1957 G. D. WHITE MERCHANDISE PACKAGE Filed July 26, 1956 Gamma i2 h 'fe the parts are assembled in use.

2,801,744= MERCHANDISE PACKAGE Gerard D: White, Ogdensburg",.N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments; to Natser Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Nevada Application Jul -26', 1956, Serial'No. 600,237

16 claims. crane-79 separate attaching devices, a' plurality of two-piece paper fastener elements ofthet'ype havinga base member with bendable prongs on its ends and a keepermember apertured at its e'nd'storeceiye the prongs when assembled.

Theinvention, as disclosed herein, is particularly characterized by the provision of a substantially rectangular sheet ofpaperboard or other stiff sheet material suitably die cut andscored to define a pair of spaced portions foldable out of the plane of the sheet so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart openings therein each having a wing integral with one edge thereof and arranged ina plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sheet. The wings preferably are semi-circular in shape so that the openings left in thesheet by their removal are also substantially semi-circular in shape for a purpose to be made apparent hereinafter. The wings also have an aperture therein and said Wings are disposed angularly relative to each other.

Each sheet has mounted thereon a plurality of twopiece fastener elements, one piece comprising, a base memher having a flat, elongated body of a length correspondin'gl' substantially to the spacing between the wings and a prong of lesser width than the body extending from each end angularly. The other piece comprises a flat, elongated' keeper member apertured' at its ends to receive threaded therethrough the prongs of a base member when A number of fastener base members are arranged in a stack and the stack is placed edgewise on said sheet with the body portions thereof bridging the space between the wings and the prongs threaded through the related wing apertures, so as to be retained in place thereby. The keeper members also are arranged'in astack seated flat against the face of the sheet from which the wings extend, closely adjacent to said wings so as to locate the end apertures therein in register with the wing openings in the sheet. A single base member is then placed flat against the back face of the sheet with its prongs threaded through the wing openings and registering keeper apertures and the end portions of said p'rongs extending beyond the stack are bent down inwardly towardione another against the top face of the uppermost keeper member in the stack so as to retain the stack of keeper members in place on the card and in substantial abutmentwith the Wings to prevent their collapse. The usual slide locks on the uppermost keeper membermay then be moved over the bentdown prong portions to hold them down and to prevent separation of the assembly;

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a novel merchandise package;

Another object isto provide a novellyconstructed sheet or card for mounting: merchandise thereon.

2 sheet without requiring the use of auxiliary fastening means.

With the foregoing and other object in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changesin the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For thepurpose of facilitating a'nunderstanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages shou'ldbe readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same charac ters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings:

,Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a merchandise package embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom planview ofthe merchandise package;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on enlarged scale taken substantially along'line' 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mounting sheet.

Referring to theaccompanying drawings, the merchandise" package illustrated comprises a substantially rectan gulari sheet 11 of paperboard, or other suitable shaperetaining material, upon one surface of which is'm'ounted a stack of pronged-fastener bases 12 and a stack of fastener keepers 13. The sheet 11, whichis perhaps best illustrated in Fig. 4; is provided with a. pair of longi tudinally spaced die cut portions defining openings 14 and Wing portions 15 which are in'tegral with the sheet along fold lines 16 and are bentalong said lines out of the plane of the sheet into. positions substantially perpendicular thereto. It should be observed that the upstand ing WingslS are angularly disposed relative to eachother for a purpose to become apparent presently. Each wing alsoh as, centrally located therein, an opening 17 which may be circular or otherwise shaped for its intended purpose;

Although the sheet 11 may be of any size to accommodate fastener elements of different sizes, and different numbers thereof, in the present disclosure there is illustrated eight fastener members and eight keeper members. Seven of the fastener base members 12 are mounted on the front face of the card 11 between the wings 15 and, as shown, each fastener base member includes. a body portion 18 having. projecting outwardly from each end thereof a prong 19 which is substantially narrower than the width of the body portion 18; The seven base members l2 are stacked together as illustrated and they are arranged on the face of the card edgewise with their projecting prongs 19 extended through. the openings 17 in the related wings 15. Inasmuch as the prongs 19 extend angularly relative to the body portions 18, said stack of base members 12 will be retained. in its mounted positionby' the outward flaring of the prongs so as to resist displacement thereof.

The fastener keeper members 13 are arrangedin a stack as shown in vertical alignment one withthe other and the stack ispositioned closely adjacent to the Wings 15 with the prong apertures 21 in the endsof'the keeper members in alignment one with the other and in: register with the respective openings 14 inthe she'et- 1 1 All-eight of the fastener keepers of the present package are so mounted in a stack.

The eighth fastener base member 12a is arranged with itszbody portion 18 flat against the bottom face of the sheet 11 and its prongs 19 extending upwardly through the related openings 14 in the sheet and through the keeper apertures 21 aligned therewith. The portions of the prongs 19 projecting through and extending above the stack of keeper members 13 are bent down inwardly toward each other against the top surface of the uppermost keeper member in the stack so as to retain the stack of keeper members firmly on the sheet. As is well understood, the keeper members 13 are provided with slide locks 22 and, in order to maintain the bent-over portions of the engaged prongs tightly against the uppermost keeper member in the :stack, the slide locks on said keeper member are moved into locking position over said bentdown prong portions. Upon referring to Fig. 2 it will be best observed that the juncture of the prongs 19 with the body portion 18 of the base member 12a is located closely adjacent to the arcuate edge 23 of the related opening 14 so as to prevent shifting of the bound stack of keeper members in one direction on the sheet 11. Shifting of the stack of keeper members in the other direction is prevented by substantial abutment of one side of the stack with the upstanding wings and also by substantial abutment of the extreme ends of the stack of keeper members with the prongs 19 projecting through the wings 15. Inadvertent or undesired withdrawal of the fastener base members 12 from the wings 15 is resisted by this contact between the ends of the stack of keeper members with said prongs inasmuch as the presence of the stack prevents said prongs from assuming a position substantially at right angles to the body portions 18 of the stack of base members 12, which position is required of the prongs in order to permit them to be withdrawn easily from the openings 17 in the wings 15.

It should be quite apparent at this time that the .present packaging is such that a desired number of fastener base members and keeper members may be securely mounted on a sheet so as to provide a compact package of merchandise wherein the mounted members cooperate with one another to resist pilferage while at the same time present an attractive display of the merchandise in readily saleable units.

V purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A merchandise package comprising a plurality of pronged fastener bases and a stack of complemental keepers mounted on a substantially rectangular sheet of paperboard having two spaced wings partially severed therefrom and disposed perpendicular to one face thereof, each of said wings being apertured to receive the prongs of the fastener bases mounted therebetween, the stack of keepers being mounted on said one face and each keeper therein having apertured ends arranged in registering alignment and in alignment with the openings in the sheet formed by removal of the wings, a fastener base mounted on the other face of the sheet, said base having its prongs projected one through each sheet opening and through the aligned keeper apertures and having their projecting end portions bent down inwardly over the uppermost keeper in the stack, and means to retain said prong portions bent to secure the stack of keepers in place, said stack of keepers being held in substantial abutment with the wings to prevent their return to the plane of the sheet.

2. A merchandise package comprising a plurality of pronged fastener bases and a stack of complemental keepers mounted on a substantially rectangular sheet of paperboard having two spaced wings partially severed therefrom and disposed perpendicular to one face thereof, each of said wings being apertured to receive the prongs of the fastener bases mounted therebetween, the stack of keepers being mounted on said one face and each keeper therein having apertured ends arranged in registering alignment and in alignment with the openings in the sheet formed by removal of the wings, a fastener base mounted on the other face of the sheet, said base having its prongs projected one through each sheet opening and through the aligned keeper apertures and having their projecting end portions bent down inwardly over the uppermost keeper in the stack, and means to retain said prong portions bent to secure the stack of keepers in place.

3. A merchandise package comprising a plurality of pronged fastener bases and a stack. of complemental keepers mounted on a substantially rectangular sheet of paperboard having two spaced wings partially severed therefrom and disposed perpendicular to one face thereof, each of said wings being apertured to receive the prongs of the fastener bases mounted therebetween, the stack of keepers being mounted on said one face, said keepers having apertured ends arranged in registering alignment and in alignment with the openings in the sheet formed by removal of the wings, and a fastener base mounted on the other face of the sheet, said base having its prongs projected one through each sheet opening and through the aligned keeper apertures and having their projecting end portions bent down inwardly over the uppermost keeper in the stack.

4. A merchandise package comprising a plurality of pronged fastener bases and a stack of complemental keepers mounted on a sheet of paperboard having two spaced wings partially severed therefrom and disposed perpendicular to one face thereof, each of said wings being apertured to receive the prongs of the fastener bases mounted therebetween, the stack of keepers being mounted on said one face, said keepers having apertured ends arranged in registering alignment and overlying the openings in the sheet formed by removal of. the Wings, a fastener base mounted on the other face of the sheet, said base having its prongs projected one through each sheet opening and through the aligned keeper apertures and having their projecting end portions bent down inwardly over the uppermost keeper in the stack, said stack of keepers being held thereby in substantial abutment with the wings to prevent their return to the plane of the sheet.

5. A merchandise package comprising a plurality of pronged fastener bases and a stack. of complemental keepers mounted on a sheet of paperboard having two spaced wings partially severed therefrom and disposed perpendicular to one face thereof and angularly relative to each other, each of said wings being apertured to receive the prongs of the fastener bases mounted therebetween, the stack of keepers being mounted on said one face, said keepers having apertured ends in alignment with each other and with the openings in the sheet formed by removal of the Wings, a fastener base arranged on the other face of the sheet with its prongs projected one through each sheet opening and through the aligned keeper apertures, said prongs having their projecting end portions bent down inwardly over the uppermost keeper in the stack, and means to retain said prong portions bent to secure the stack of keepers in place.

6. A merchandise package comprising a plurality of pronged fastener bases and a stack of complemental keepers mounted on a sheet of paperboard having two spaced wings partially severed therefrom and disposed perpendicular to one face thereof, each of said wings being apertured to receive prongs of a plurality of fastener bases seated edgewise therebetween, the stack of fastener keepers being seated on said one face, said keepers having aligned apertured ends in alignment with the openings in the sheet formed by removal of the wings, and a fastener base seated against the other face of the sheet with its prongs projected one through each sheet opening and through the keeper apertures aligned therewith and having their projecting end portions bent down inwardly over the uppermost keeper in the stack, said stack of keepers being held in substantial abutment with the wings to prevent their return to the plane of the sheet.

7. A merchandise package comprising a plurality of fastener elements each including a pronged base and a keeper mounted on a sheet of stiif paperboard, said sheet having a pair of spaced struck-out portions defining wings, said wings extending substantially perpendicular to the front face of the sheet and each having an aperture therein to receive the prongs of the fastener bases, the openings provided by said struck-out portions constituting means to receive the prongs of another fastener base arranged flat against the back face of the sheet for mounting the keepers in a stack on the front face of said sheet.

8. A merchandise package of the character recited in claim 7 in which the stack of keepers is secured in abutting relationship to the wings to retain them in position.

9. A merchandise package of the character recited in claim 7 in which the portions of the prongs extending through the wing apertures are in abutment with the respective ends of the stack of keepers.

10. A merchandise package comprising a plurality of fastener elements each including a pronged base and a keeper mounted on a sheet of stiff material, said sheet having a pair of spaced struck-out portions extending substantially perpendicular to the front face of the sheet and each having an aperture therein to receive the prongs of the fastener bases, a fastener base arranged flat against the back face of the sheet with its prongs extending therethrough for mounting a stack of keepers on the front face of said sheet, said prongs having end portions bent over the stack of keepers to retain them in place.

11. A merchandise package of the character recited in claim 10 in which the stack of keepers is secured in abutting relationship to the struck-out portions to retain them in position.

12. A merchandise package of the character recited in claim 10 in which the portions of the prongs extending through the apertures are in abutment with the respective ends of the stack of keepers.

13. A merchandise package comprising a plurality of fastener elements each including a pronged base and a keeper member mounted on a sheet, a pair of spaced wings extended substantially perpendicular from the front face of said sheet, each wing having an aperture therein to receive the prongs of a stack of fastener bases mounted 6 on said front face of the sheet, and the sheet having spaced openings to receive the prongs of another fastener base arranged on the back face of said sheet formounting the keeper members in a stack on the front face of said sheet.

14. A merchandise package comprising a plurality of fastener elements each including a pronged base and a keeper member mounted on a sheet, a pair of spaced wings extended substantially perpendicular from the front face of said sheet, each wing having an. aperture therein to receive the prongs of a stack of fastener bases mounted on said front face of the sheet, and the sheet having spaced openings outwardly of said wings to receive therethrough the terminal portions of a strap member arranged on the back face of said sheet and bridging the space between the openings for mounting the keeper member in a stack on the front face of said sheet.

15. A merchandise package comprising a plurality of fastener elements each including a pronged base and a keeper mounted on a sheet of stiff material, said sheet having a pair of spaced wings extending substantially perpendicular to the front face of the sheet and each having an aperture therein to receive the prongs of a stack of fastener bases, a fastener base arranged fiat against the back face of the sheet with its prongs extending through openings in the sheet for mounting a stack of keepers on the front face of said sheet, said prongs having end portions bent over the stack of keepers to retain them in place.

16. A merchandise package comprising a sheet of stiff material having a pair of spaced openings therein, wings one adjacent to an edge of each opening and extending perpendicular to one face of said sheet, a stack of elongated articles seated on said one face, said wings each having an aperture therein to receive therethrough end portions of said stack of elongated articles, another one of said articles arranged on the other face of the sheet with its end portions extending through the spaced openings in said sheet, and a stack of different articles lying against said one face of said sheet between the extended end portions, said end portions being folded over said stack of different articles to retain them in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,803,602 Dey May 5, 1931 2,278,524 Parker Apr. 7, 1942 2,738,061 Roth Mar. 13, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,317 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1913 

